Category: Reviews

Nowadays, we women are so much into branded stuff that often neglect all the things we can buy from our very own country’s local market. I am guilty of this for sure. I,for a while forgot that we can actually get a lot of good stuff from Pakistan and it is just a matter of finding the right thing. If we are spending a ton on makeup stuff, why not use that money by buying in our own country sometimes.

So in my last trip, I made sure to try few things and buy some oldie Goldie brands that I have seen in my teenage years. I ended up buying many and tried some stuff, loved some of them and threw away the ones that weren’t worth it at all.

Been a long time ever since I posted my last article and I kind of miss it. Life was so busy and lots of changes happened including my website but I am back now officially. For my come back post, I decide to write about my current favorite makeup brushes from the brand, Make Up Academy.

Introduction to the brand:

Make Up Academy, widely known as MUA is a very affordable makeup brand that has hit the local market of Dubai recently. They are located in Outlet Mall and for details, you can contact them on Facebook. They have variety and wide collection of beauty products that can help one to create different and complete looks esp for beginners.

The day I came to know they were available locally, it was one of the happiest days of my life because as a beauty blogger all I want to do is test new products and for that the PRICE matters a lot. MUA carry a lot of new and latest products at a very affordable rate.

So here are some of the brushes that I received from them and after using them a LOT, I am ready to share my views.

MUA F6 angled brush

F6- an angled brush ideal for powder contouring.

F2 small stippling brush

F2- small stippling brush.

This is the first small stippling brush I own that I love using to highlight my cheek bones and apply blush

MUA E6

E6-This brush is ideal for coming the lashes and to separate clumpy lashes. Also good for taming brows.

MUA E3- blending brush

E3- One of my favorite brushes to blend eyeshadows on my crease.

MUA E4

E4- My recent love, A brush perfect to line my lash line whether upper or lower and a cat wing liner’s best friend.

My Feedback:

♥ affordable

♥ sturdy handles

♥ very soft bristles

♥ feels very soft on skin

♥picks up powder shades very well

♥ transfers a very pigmented shade on skin

♥ do not shed even after many washes

♥ do not stink at all

Disclaimer:

The products mentioned in this post were sent to me as PR package but all views and opinion shared is honest and based on experience after using them.

I tried my best! Trust me. But these are the least that I can show There were many in my collection. So, don’t be bored if the video has become really very long as I tried giving extra information and tips but due to time, I had to just omit some parts 😦 I hope this will help in any way.

Featuring in this video are all makeup brushes you will find in makeup brush sets, what they are used for and which ones worked for me.

Powder Brush

Can be used for compact powders, loose powder, blush and bronzers.

Kabuki Brushes

Ideal for Liquid foundations but can be used for powder and cake foundations too. Use them for your cream contouring and highlighting or for applying face powder, no restrictions 🙂

Tapered Brush

The one in the picture is by Real Technique. It is basically a contour brush but I use it to apply blush and highlighters. Amazing results.

Flat Foundation Brush:

These are flat foundation brush , if you want , you can try with it but I am not able to use it for foundation instead I use it to apply face mask, concealer & cream contour.

These are some of the brushes I mentioned in the video. To see the complete video, click here. Here is a suggestion for everyone, if you are a beginner, I suggest go for an affordable makeup brush sets, they are equally of good quality as high-end. Do not splurge on high-end, first try from the drugstore which ones suit you. Drugstore makeup brushes are also of extraordinary quality, they will give you the same result as any other brushes will. Never think that if you are using MAC , then only you will get flawless results because it is totally wrong. Achieving flawless makeup is by the technique and product you use not your brush. My makeup brushes are mostly from the Drugstore because I am very satisfied with them. No complains whatsoever , so check down below my suggestions.

Bh Cosmetics Brush sets

Coastal Scents Brush sets

Morphe Brushes

Real Techniques.

I also have bought some sets which is not of any well-known brand such as Make Up For You. If you get your hands on one of these sets, then use it! Regarding shedding of bristles even two of my Sigma brushes started shedding after my first wash. Moral of the story, go for affordable ones with good quality. The brands I mentioned above are the ones providing us with reliable quality brushes.

Where you can order the above if you live in UAE- Click here for my recommended online stores that can get them for you. OR check out the websites , http://www.girliestuffs.com and Glamazle.com

Note: Make sure to clean your brushes every week. This is how I clean.

Holiday season and I am all up for holiday palettes! Every now and then I go to different beauty websites checking for the right holiday palette for moi. Most of the brands will be coming out with some amazing value holiday collections so you guys need to watch out for it. The first I got for myself is the Too Faced Le Grand Chateau.

Packaging:

Perfect!

The Inside:

We get 3 different palettes with 6 eye shades and one blush in each. The palettes comes in a book like case which is very easy to handle. Inside is also everyone’s favorite the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.

Too faced tried giving us all that we need in these palettes, from matte to satin, shimmery to glittery. Name it and you get it. The packaging is really cute and I love the idea of separate palettes as it makes it really easy to carry and so ideal if you want to gift it to someone. It has this note space at the back where you can write the name of the person you want to give it too.

The mascara , I haven’t tried as yet, but it has been raved about by the beauty queens of YouTube so I hope you shouldn’t find it hard searching for its review. However I will put up my review as soon as I’m ready for it.

What I do not like is the pigmentation is not as good as what Too Faced usually offers to their buyers. I was expecting a lot more. I won’t say it has a very poor color pay off because that is not the case it all. Pigmentation is good and colors are so beautiful with eye shadow base but not as good as I expected from the brand. Special mention to the duo chrome shades which are in these paletts. Yoohoo! I’ll be popping swatches of these on my Instagram , so be there with me ❤

I would like to mention the blush in these palettes, I wish they had some darker ones too as dark-skinned girls as myself can’t use it as blush. Well I’m not really dark but wheatish and still I can’t seem to use these for my cheeks.

it has SP15- ideal for the U.A.E weather where the sun has full potential of hurting your skin with its kiss SPF will protect your lips from that.

contains Argan Oil

the box has complete information of the product like ingredients,expiry date, main elements etc.

affordable

very creamy

not drying

glides on lips smoothly

nourishes lips due to oils it contains

though the color is purple, it is so wearable and doesn’t at all look overwhelming

12 shades to choose from

Cons:

the packaging- I wish the lipstick bullet where the product is in, would have been of good material as Glamgals’ other products which has an awesome packaging.

Check out my earlier Glamgals Product reviews on their nail product and dual lip gloss that won my heart.

My final verdict:

As I have mentioned the Pros and Cons already, I wouldn’t be going to much of those details. I’m sure you might be wondering about the longevity of the lipstick. It is not long-lasting, which is very much okay with me because it doesn’t claim to be one. Not unless you are buying a long-lasting lip product, you shouldn’t expect one to be. Lipsticks always need touch ups that’s the reason I make sure I carry the lipstick shade I am wearing on a particular day, in my purse as I’d be needing it for touch ups sometime later during the day. So here you are getting extra makeup tips from me. 😛 However the Glamgals Creme Matte lipstick did last for hours till I had burger and french fries party 😛 You get so much of the product in the tube that make is so worth every penny and of course the quality which I already have raved about earlier.

So I entered this small but not so tiny room with a very cozy ambiance to find myself surrounded by beautiful people and very pleasing aroma of Arabic perfume but with a touch of the western world. The environment gave an instant feel of Aoud and Bukhoor all over the place and couldn’t just take my eyes off the endless collection of perfumes displayed for all of us to try. Who doesn’t love Aabian frangrances. Don’t judge me if I felt like showering myself with everything I laid my hands on there. They were irresistible. I am not a big fan of perfumes all my life and that’s because I am allergic to too much of it. You will find me sneezing where perfumes are sprayed. But this time it was different. Not a single time a sneezed or felt my nose was bothered. There was something more with those perfumes than just some fancy bottles with ordinary aromatic fluid inside. I picked a random bottle that was displayed and sprayed on myself, it reminded me that I was on the land of The Arabs and few minutes later, I realized it wasn’t just the typical arabic smell but there was more to it but what was it? This question was answered when the Master Perfumer started speaking about his perfumes.

Roja Dove:

British Master Perfumer

Ambassador for the GREAT Britain campaign

I am fortunate to have always lived a charmed life – happy to walk the path I was born to travel along. I was exceptionally lucky with my debut into the professional world of perfumery as I was offered a role within the most prestigious of all French perfumery houses. My training was classical, studying the great masterpieces, and learning the beauty of the raw materials and how they have been used over time to create different effects. In some ways I was totally ruined, I grew up in a world full of vicuna, silk, and cashmere, rather than wool, cotton, and nylon.-Roja Dove”

My favorite quote:

I do not believe it is possible to be creative to order, it is an emotional process. My intuition alone leads me.” – Roja Dove

Roja Parfums

Redefines Luxury and Sophistication in Perfumery for the Modern Age

1. They use the finest quality materials available; from precious Rose de Mai to legendary Ambergris.

2. Roja Parfums is made without compromise.

3. Every element has Roja’s personal attention to detail.

4. They are fragrances that discretely deliver quality, luxury, and sophistication; quite simply.

5. Not just for fragrances, they also use precious natural materials for the packaging. For the bottles, caps, plaques and boxes they use crystal, gold, precious metals, and silk.

6. Each bottle is manufactured in France and made of the purest, clearest glass used in the industry

7. The gold detail is screen-printed in England onto the glass by hand in a process that takes three days to complete.

8. Each perfume cap, the symbol of Roja Parfums, requires fourteen Swarovski crystals each set by hand in a process that takes five days to finish.

The design on of the Swarovski work on the cap is inspired by the Maestro’s diamond ring. ❤

9. The front of each bottle is adorned with a golden plaque applied to the glass by hand in England.

10. Each precious bottle sits within an equally precious presentation box that is hand assembled in England by award winning craftsmen who use the finest quality papers, woods, and silks, many of which are created exclusively for Roja Parfums.

Following are the details of the Parfums launched.

Roja Parfums A Goodnight Kiss-

So lying in one corner was this very beautifully presented perfume(not that the their perfumes aren’t presented well) that looked very different from the rest. The white flowers gave a very feminine feel to the perfume.

A Goodnight Kiss is a new perfume for women inspired by Roja’s mother and was created on her birthday. Though I love most of his perfumes, I know for sure that this is my favorite because its fragrance reminds me of the bond between two people; how a son captured a moment in a luxurious bottle in remembrance of his mother.

I remember vividly being about 6 years old and seeing my mother standing in the doorway of my bedroom wearing a gold lame cocktail dress, the light from the landing coming over her as if she had a corona around her. Enchanted by this vision, as my mother came and kissed me goodnight, her scent together with the smell of her face powder pervaded me. Her scent, intertwined with that image, will always stay with me.

Roja Dove Tutti Frutti

The sweet-toothed I am,this line of perfumes seriously made me hungry. The master Perfumer has for us these yummilicious perfumes that is a blend of sweetness and Aoud. Fruity, Candy and Sweetie are three irresistible perfumes that begs to be endeavored.

Surrounded by indulgence and edible guilty pleasures whilst working in the Middle East, I noticed that lovers of Aoud were craving something new – something creative – so I began playing with the idea of infusing Aoud with gourmand elements.” – Roja Dove.

Candy Aoud – Rich, Soft, Warm, Fruity, Sweet & Spicy

Top Notes: Bergamot, Grapefruit

Heart Notes: Banana, Pear, Blackcurrant, Apple, Rose

A rich, leathery base of Gurjum, Amber, Frankincense, Labdanum, Birch Tar, Fir Balsam, Leather, powdery Orris, and Musk is warmed by a blend of Aoud, Sandal, Cedar, and Casmir Woods, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Amyris, and Cypriol, which mingles with an unusual note of Rhubarb, the whole enlivened by Cardamom and Saffron, whilst Rose further sweetens a fruity heart of Banana, Pear, Blackcurrant, and Apple, counterpointed by citrus Bergamot and Grapefruit.

A fresh burst of Grapefruit, Bergamot and aromatic Artemeisa opens this creation, made ultra-fruity by a medley of Blackcurrant, Raspberry, and Strawberry, further sweetened by Orange Blossom, Rose and Violet, underscored by an earthy blend of Patchouli, Cypriol, Amyris, and Oakmoss, further warmed by Aoud, Sandal, Cedar, Casmir, and Guaiac Woods, the whole nestling on a soft, sensual base of Vanilla, Orris, Frankincense, Labdanum, Birch, Tar, Gurjum, and Leather Notes, with whispers of Musk.

Sweetie Aoud – Rich, Soft, Gourmand, Warm & Sweet

Top Notes: Bergamot, Artemisia

Heart Notes: Rose, Patisserie Accord

Bergamot mingles with Artemisa to create a fresh foil for a note of cool Rose at the heart of this creation, further sweetened by a Patisserie Accord, warmed by a blend of Cedar, Guaiac, Cade, and Aoud Woods, with sandalwood-like-Amyris, where exotic notes of Gurjum, Cypriol, and Patchouli are enlivened by Cumin and Cardamom, nestling on a leathery base of Frankincense, Cistus, and Labdanum.

Cost: AED 2370 each 50ml at Paris Gallery

Roja Parfums De La Nuit

Surrender to the Spell of the Night

When I hear palettes, makeup comes in mind. Contour/highlight palette, lipstick palette, blush palette and eyeshadow palette. But Roja Dove introduces us all to a perfume palette with three alluring elixirs that weave their own magical spells, as night falls. The palette represents the three characters one can find in the darkness of the night. This part of the event made me wander through my wildest imagination as each and every scent was perfectly explained taking you to a whole different place with different scenarios.

The rich, oriental fragrances inspired by the after-dark feature a plethora of luxurious ingredients that demand attention

No.1

Provocative and rich, this fragrant exhibitionist instantly announces its presence. Mesmerizing any who fall into its path, it is the most alluring of perfumes.

Bergamot wraps around a warm blend of Guaiac and Cedar Woods, Patchouli, Papyrus, and Vetiver, enlivened by Clove and costly Saffron, the whole held captive in a soft, balsamic base of Cistus, Labdanum, Benzoin, Tolu Balsam, Styrax, Vanilla, and Tonka Bean, made sensual by Civet and Castoreum.

No.2

Soft, warm and tantalizing, this fragrance revels in the power of attraction. The warmth of a touch, the excitement of a quick glance, No. 2 is the master of magnetism.

A Rum Accord blends with Cocoa at the heart of this creation, which is counterpointed by the freshness of citrus Bergamot, Lemon, and Orange, warmed by papyrus, Patchouli, Vetiver, and Guaiac Wood, the whole sublimated by a soft, sensual base of Cistus, Labdanum, Benzoin, Tolu Balsam, Tonka Bean, Civet and Castoreum

No.3

Exotic, mysterious, and enticing, this fragrance invites you to experience the allure of the unknown.

Fresh Bergamot, Amyris, and Artemesia counterpoint a note of cool Rose in the heart of this creation, where a lively blend of Cardamom, Cumin, and Saffron is warmed by Cedar, Sandal, Guaiac, and Juniper Woods, made earthy by Cypriol, Gurjum, and Patchouli, underscored by a rich base of Incense, Styrax, Benzoin, Amber, Cistus, leather-like Labdanum, and other Leather Notes.

“Risqué Parfum Pour Homme is a sensory exploration of how society tells us to behave, think and act, so I created a perfume that represents a deviation from propriety. A scent that seems disciplined but reveals itself to be darker and more complex over time.

The scent appears to be gentlemanly and refined, but with each breath it subtly reveals something more carnal. Risqué Parfum Pour Homme – something that should be kept behind closed doors.” – Roja Dove, Master Perfumer

The warmth of Cedarwood, Vetiver, and Oakmoss is enlivened by Pink Pepper and Cardamom, held captive in a soft base of Frankincense, Myrrh, Labdanum, and Tonka Bean, where a heart of Geranium and Jasmine mingle with an unusual note of Carrot Seed, further sweetened by Peach, the whole freshened by Bergamot, Lemon, Lavender, and Litsea Cubeba.

Roja Dove’s Risqué Parfum Pour Homme will be available at Paris Gallery starting September 2015

Cost: AED 2050 for 50ml.

Roja Parfums “Beguiled”

When Nothing Is What It Seems

That day , I recalled a word I have read only in romantic novels I read during my teenage life; Beguile… As creative and artistic as Roja is, I wasn’t at all surprised that one of his perfumes is named Beguiled. He knows what he does, understands a woman and observes her from head to toe. A woman is someone who can be who and what she wants. She wears an invisible veil so people can only see what she wants to show at the same time she hides what is not meant for the world to see.

Roja Parfums says:

Behind its floral innocence, Beguiled reveals a darker side; nothing is what it seems as natural aphrodisiacs weave their powerful magic, creating a seduction that is so addictive it begs to be smelt again and again.

The woman who wears Beguiled casts a fragrant spell – captivating all who encounter her. With each breath they are helpless, enchanted by its potent hypnotism. And so the perfume’s power to beguile begins…

A burst of Bergamot, Lemon and Mandarin opens this creation which is sweetened by a bouquet of Rose, Jasmine, and creamy Ylang Ylang, where an unusual note of Raspberry Leaf is enlivened by Pink Pepper and Pepper, nestling on a warm base of Oakmoss, Patchouli, Sandalwood and powdery Orris.

Cost: AED 2050 for 50ml at Paris Gallery

My Thoughts:

If you have been following my blog, you’d know by now that I am not into high end brands that much because I find them to be over priced for no good reason. Specially with makeup, you can find the exact dupe of high-end stuff from the drugstore. So , I really had all the good reasons to stay away from them but this event by Paris Gallery changed my perspective with regards to high end brands. I am really impressed by the tremendous effort placed while making each perfume. From ingredients to the packaging. The concept behind each fragrance was so deep and really got me thinking. This I would say is so worth every penny. I would suggest you all to study each and every fragrance if you plan to buy one because it will help you choose which scent you really want and prefer. I was in abaya when I sprayed the perfume on and it’s been 4 days already and my room smells so “Beguiled” ( this was what I splashed on myself at the event) 😀 A Goodnight Kiss is definitely in my wishlist. ❤

I still remember how my last review from this line was a hit on my Facebook. Why won’t it be? It was a really good product. I do not compromise at all with products I apply on my face and whenever a new company contacts me for reviews , I thoroughly do my research first before anything. NuSkin is one company I haven’t heard of at all till I used their Mask for the first time ,which I really loved (I did hesitate when applying for the first time though)but since then they earned my trust and so I started using another product from them which is what this post will be about.

But before anything , I’d like to highlight something that I have noticed and would like to pour in my opinion. As I’m part of many Blogging Facebook groups, I have noticed that a lot of members have phobia of sellers from Forever Living, Younique etc. We can’t really blame them as their representatives didn’t leave any leaf unturned in destroying these companies’ reputation by following annoying selling method. So , recently I saw a post in a group about the same complain but with NuSkin mentioned as well as other other two mentioned above. The main issue that groups’ members have is why are these companies allowed in bloggers’ groups and attract bloggers by advertising saying”opportunities for bloggers” when in fact they are just trying to sell. I 100% agree to this. But I definitely would like to share my experience with Nuskin. I was contacted by a very nice lady , introduced me to their products (the best sellers I believe) then asked me if I would like to review. I asked for the website and while chatting with her I went through their website and Googled about them. I said yes for the review and we finalized everything with the address where to get the samples delivered. During this chat, the lady offered me to join them but she wasn’t at all annoying or insisting and I really appreciate that. She let me decide and gave me my space about this. I posted the same review about them in those groups which you are reading at the moment. Yes Nuskin do recruit reps but my experience wasn’t bad at all that I will block them. That’s the reason you all can see my reviews of their products. I am not their rep at all and just like other companies do, they sent me samples to review with no strings attached. However, I know for the fact that they would want me to join. Aim of this mini experience review is to give people/brand due respect they deserve. If I experienced bad, I would definitely talk about it, but if my experience is otherwise then I should let everyone know about it too.

So moving on to the review.

Product Name: Polishing Peel Skin Refinisher( Click the picture to be directed to their website)

Key ingredients: (from their site)

Pumpkin enzymes—immediately work to resurface and smooth skin by dissolving built up dead and damaged cells.

Enjoy skin smoothing results clinically proven to be equivalent to a professional microdermabrasion session without ever leaving home. Polishing Peel™ features pumpkin enzymes to resurface,soften, and polish the skin and bentonite clay to remove dull skin cells and toxins. A convenient alternative to professional micro-dermabrasion treatments, Polishing Peel™ delivers a fresh, healthy complexion. To maintain apolished appearance, use three times the first week and twice a week thereafter.

My thoughts:

What intrigued me was that, people go for professional surgical treatments , spend a lot of money and their time to bring back their youthful skin which is highly affected by exposure to sun, ageing or any skin problem. Nuskin claims that this polishing peel does the same job as any microdermabrasion treatments do. Of course there will be a bit of a difference, I haven’t tried the surgical one but with surgery you see results immediately. Of course, with something you are doing yourself , the results will take some time. The result of this polishing peel is amazing. at first, I found it very hard to deal with as I wasn’t really sure how to use it. I let it dry completely due to which I found it very hard to rub it off. So do not let it dry completely, as soon as it settles on the skin start massaging in circular motion, you will see all the dirt coming off. I applied it all over my neck and face and every time I do that, my skin looks lighter , smooth and non-greasy. For all those wanting to get rid of their fake tans, this one will do the job for you as it literally rips off unwanted layer on top of your skin.

Watch the video for the demo on how to use it , I used my hands as I do not show my face but the steps are the same when applied on face. Make sure to start with a clean dry face and finish off with face toner and then moisturizer.

To order and check reviews, click here. OR you can email at thueyw@hotmail.com